Canoe races at the Crystal Falls Bass Festival start at the city’s power plant and end at the bridge at the bottom of Superior Avenue. This year’s competition gets underway at 11 a.m. Saturday. Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo

CRYSTAL FALLS — The Crystal Falls Lions Club will host its 59th annual Bass Festival this weekend at Runkle Lake Park in Crystal Falls.

The three-day event kicks off with the Finn vs. Polak softball games. The first pitch for the women is at 6 p.m. Friday, with the men to follow at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, the annual Bass Festival parade steps off at 10 a.m., with lineup starting at 9 a.m. at the Forest Park School parking lot. The procession will continue down Superior Avenue.

The canoe races begin at 11 a.m. Saturday on the Paint River. Participants will leave the Crystal Falls power dam and venture down to just before the M-69 bridge. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., North Country Cruisers have planned a car show.

Runkle Lake Park will be the hub of the action throughout the afternoon and into the evening Saturday.

The Lions will have their famous barbecue chicken on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 11 a.m. until sold out. Concessions will be available from noon to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. In addition to the chicken dinners, other concessions include brats, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and beverages.

The first game of the two-day volleyball tournament is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.

Live music will be provided throughout the afternoon, with Jonny Waara playing the first set from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Kids bounce house will be open for youngsters to enjoy throughout the event.

The day’s activities will conclude with the annual Wop-Swede softball game at 7:30 p.m. A concession stand will be available for the game.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars at 108 Superior Ave. in Crystal Falls will open for breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday.

The annual Run Your Bass Off event will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Sunday. There will be both 10K and 5K races, as well as a 2-mile Walk Your Bass Off race and a kids’ 1-mile race. The races start and end at Runkle Lake Park.

Awards will be presented at the pavilion after all races are complete.

The remaining Sunday festivities continue at the park.

Local artists Melanie Rose will perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by local musician Larry Ketola from 2 to 5 p.m.

Concessions will be available from noon to 6 p.m. and the baby contest will start at noon in the pavilion.

The volleyball tournament also continues, as well as a horseshoe contest at 1 p.m. Those interested in participating in horseshoes can register at 12:30 p.m.

Children’s games are set for 2 p.m.

At 3 p.m., winners of the annual fishing contest, sponsored by Superior Sport and Feed, will be announced at the pavilion. All fish can be registered through 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets for the major raffle are available for $5 each. First place is $1,000, second $500, third $400, fourth $225, fifth $150, sixth $100; with 10 more places of $50. Only 1,200 tickets will be sold.

Winners for the raffle will be drawn at 6 p.m. at the park. They will also have 50-50s throughout both days. The festival will conclude at 7 p.m. Sunday.

This year, the Masonic Temple will be open for bingo on Thursday.

The Bass Festival is the Crystal Falls Lions Club’s primary fundraiser. All the money taken in by the club, established in 1953, goes back into the community, including scholarships for three seniors each year.

Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.